Ghana will host The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on September 29 in their second Group C encounter of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Black Stars are seeking to recover from a disappointing opening result against Côte d'Ivoire, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat in Bouaké. A positive result against The Gambia is crucial to strengthen their position in Group C and keep their qualification hopes alive.
Black Stars head coach Carlos Queiroz has emphasized the need for his team to dominate possession, recover the ball quickly, and sustain an attacking mentality throughout the full 90 minutes. He believes that controlling possession is not simply a matter of keeping the ball but an important component of Ghana's strategy for securing their first points of the qualifying campaign.
Queiroz wants the Black Stars to compete aggressively to win possession, retain it effectively, and dictate the rhythm of the match. He joked that he would readily accept an arrangement with his Gambian counterpart under which Ghana would be allowed to retain possession for the entirety of the contest, provided his players continued to move forward with attacking intent.
The Portuguese tactician stressed that possession alone will not be sufficient if his players fail to translate their control of the ball into meaningful attacking opportunities. He wants the Black Stars to demonstrate greater purpose once they enter the final third, with their possession ultimately directed towards creating chances and finding the back of the net.
Queiroz remains optimistic that a stronger attacking performance could place Ghana in a favourable position to secure victory. Having seen his team struggle to convert possession and opportunities into goals during the defeat in Côte d'Ivoire, the coach is expecting a more decisive display from his players against The Gambia.
The fixture carries considerable importance for Ghana as the Black Stars attempt to secure qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, following their failure to reach the 2025 edition staged in Morocco. Ghana's absence from the 2025 tournament brought an end to a lengthy sequence of consecutive appearances at the continental championship.
With home support behind them, the Black Stars will be aiming to transform their coach's philosophy of sustained possession and positive attacking football into a much-needed victory and begin rebuilding their qualifying campaign after the setback in Bouaké. A positive result against The Gambia will help Ghana to bounce back from their opening defeat and put them in a stronger position to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key points
- Carlos Queiroz demands 90 minutes of attacking football from Ghana against The Gambia.
- Ghana seeks to recover from a 2-0 defeat to Côte d'Ivoire in their opening qualifying match.
- A positive result against The Gambia is crucial for Ghana's qualification hopes.
